The main goal of the BTSF Training Programme on Pest and plant protection risk assessment is to disseminate best practices for the implementation of principles and methods of food chain risk assessment, improving knowledge of this complex area of work and ensuring consistent and high implementation standards across the European Union. 

  • Objective 1: Promoting reduction of discrepancies in procedural aspects of risk assessment 
  • Objective 2: Contribute to the harmonisation of risk assessment approaches
  • Objective 3: Contribute to increasing transparency and building trust amongst Member States’ authorities in each other’s risk assessments.
  • Objective 4: Disseminate best practices for risk management and communication
  • Objective 5: Promote exchange of experience in order to increase the level of expertise and harmonisation of approaches.

The course addresses the following topics:

  • Introduction to pest and plant protection risk assessment (Legal framework, Preparation of PRA, Data requirements for plant pest risk assessment and uncertainties, Plant pest initiation and categorisation)
  • Risk assessment in practice: initiation phase and pest categorization, risk assessment on the border crossings
  • Risk assessment in practice: entry, establishment and spread
  • Assessment of potential consequences
  • Risk management
  • Risk analysis and reporting
  • Risk communication and surveillance

This Training Programme has been designed for the profiles and positions described below. Please verify compliance with the selection criteria before submitting or validating applications.

Participants must:

  • Have worked in functional areas of food chain risk assessment with a minimum of 3 years of professional experience or
  • Have had experience of setting up and implementation of food chain risk assessment in a Competent Authority (covering areas of food/ feed safety, animal health or animal welfare).
Session Start Date End Date City Country
1 29/04/2024 03/05/2024 Riga Latvia
2 18/11/2024 22/11/2024 Valencia Spain
Pest and plant protection risk assessment